Terry Gilliam has labelled Syfy's plans for a TV series adaptation of his 1996 sci-fi feature "12 Monkeys" a "very dumb idea".

Gilliam directed the film which starred Bruce Willis as a convict sent back in time to gather information about a man-made virus that wiped out most of the planet. Gilliam is not involved in the upcoming series adaptation, and tells Screen Daily:

"I know nothing about that. That’s just ridiculous. It doesn’t have anything to do with me and no-one has contacted me. It’s a very dumb idea. That’s what I think. If it was going to be any good it would have to be written by David and Janet Peoples, who wrote the film, otherwise it would just be another version of Time Bandits."

Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett ("Terra Nova") are penning the series which begins production in November.